Thoughts, moods and emotions can affect health

Falling in love

Falling in love raises levels of nerve growth factor. Nerve growth factor is a protein that is important for the growth and maintenance of nerve cells.

Falling in love activates the areas of the brain responsible for feel good emotions and serves to control the autonomic nervous system, i.e., stress reduction.

The body chemicals/hormones associated with falling in love can be classified into three categories namely Testosterone and Estrogen (Lust) in the first “lust” stage, Dopamine, Norepinephrine & Serotonin (Love) in the second “love “stage of love and finally Oxytocin & Vasopressin (attachment) in the final “attachment” stage.

Hiding your irritation

It’s hard to know what’s best, venting anger or holding it in, as both have negative effects and according to long-term study in Michigan looked people who “controlled” or “did not show their anger” in confrontations has twice the risk of dying from serious conditions such as heart attack, stroke or cancer.

Emotional breaking down in tears

When you cry, you really do cry out negative emotions. Crying is a response to the unmanageable stress & threat experienced by the sympathetic nervous system.

Emotional tears help in eliminating stress hormones like adrenocorticotropic and neurotransmitters associated with stress. Emotional tears help to lower blood pressure, pulse rate and more synchronized brain-wave patterns.

A Cuddle

Oxytocin, “the bonding and cuddle hormone”, makes a couple want to touch and cuddle. Cuddling, in turn, triggers the release of DHEA, anti-ageing, immune system boosting, anti-stress hormone that triggers cellular restoration in the body.

Warm feeling of Gratitude

Feeling thankful, grateful, appreciative for what you’ve got, is all it takes to boost immunity, lower blood pressure and speeds Oxytocin induced healing throughout the body.

Laughter

Scientists/Cardiologists have found laughter reduces the risk of heart attack by reducing unwanted stress, which can destroy Endocardium – the protective lining of blood vessels.

Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine whereas it increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins and neurotransmitters.

Laughter also relaxes muscles, relieves pain, keeps blood pressure in check, helps increase oxygen absorption in the blood and increases immunity. A good hearty laugh is good for weight loss as it optimizes oxygen levels in the system and helps burns more calories.

Down in the dumps

The feeling of totally down and out (depression, pessimism, apathy) is associated with depleted serotonin and dopamine (the feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain).

Serotonin and Dopamine play a role in regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, memory, the gastrointestinal tract, it stimulates metabolism, cellular growth and digestion.

An argument

Thinking about the argument, even weeks after the irritating incident, makes the blood pressure rise again, wounds take longer to heal and this response is caused by a surge in Cytokines protein molecules in the body.

Being under pressure

The effect of being constantly under pressure keeps the levels of Cortisol Hormone at a constant high. Memory and accuracy are impaired, you feel sluggish & tire out easily, depression may set in, libido diminishes, blood glucose levels & blood pressure shoots up, increasing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Aashish Nanda

At Moksha Mantra, a well-being website, my focus is to decipher the ‘mystery behind the mystery’. The website is a place where the mystical side of wisdom meets the scientific understanding of well-being.

Along with the articles, my main focus, through the website, is to showcase related classes, centres, teachers, healers, meditation and healing masters, spiritual guides and LIFE philosophers.

From time to time, to sustain myself financially, besides conducting workshops from my South Delhi based center, I also conduct pan India group classes, courses, workshops and retreats on well-being topics like spiritual wellness, healing, yoga philosophy, mindfulness, meditation, breathing, pranayama, chakra healing and balancing...

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a Spiritual Guru. I am not a Healer. I am not a Coach. I am not a Transformer. After trying to define myself, with various labels, I realized that I am simply a Mirror - A CLP Guide (Core Life Processes Guide).